Transcript Contingency Contracting, Token Economy, and Group Contingencies

Chapter 26:
Contingency Contracting, Token
Economy, and Group
Contingencies
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• AKA: Behavioral Contract
• Definition:
– A document that specifies a contingent
relationship between
• The completion of a specific behavior and
• Access to a specified reinforcer
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• Components
– Description of the task
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Who will perform the task/receive reward
What is the task to be performed
When the task must be completed
How well the task must be completed
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• Components
– Reward
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Who will judge task completion
What is the reward
When the reward will be delivered
How much of the reward the person will receive
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• Components
– Task Record
• A place to record progress
– Sets occasion for regular review of the contract
– Helps individual remain focused and gives feedback
on performance
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• How do they work?
– Typically a package that involves:
• Reinforcement
• Rules
• Response prompting
– Can even be a self-contract
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• Steps to developing one
– Hold a meeting to discuss how contracts work,
goals, etc.
– Identify tasks individuals can and already do
perform
– Identify potential contracting tasks
– Identify potential rewards
– Write the contract
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• Things to consider
– Is the behavior already in the learner’s
repertoire?
– Does the behavior result in a permanent
product?
– What is the reading ability of the learner?
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Contingency Contract
• Evaluating Contracts
– Focus on the objective measure of the
target behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Definition
– A behavior change system with three major
components
• Specified list of behaviors to reinforce
• Tokens or points for emitting those behaviors
• A menu of back-up reinforcers for which the
learner can exchange tokens/points
(Effectiveness of tokens as reinforcers depends
upon the power of the back-up reinforcers)
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Designing a Token Economy
– Select tokens
– Identify target behaviors/rules
– Select menu of back-up reinforcers
– Establish ratio exchange
– Specify when/how tokens will be dispensed
and exchanged
– Field test
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Select Tokens
– Washers, checkers, coupons, poker chips, tally
marks, holes punched in cards…
– Considerations
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Safe
Control counterfeiting and bootlegging
Durable
Accessible
Cheap
Token should not be a desirable object
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Identify Target Behaviors and Rules (see Ch.
3)
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Select measurable/observable behaviors
Specify criteria for task completion
Start with a small number of behaviors
Ensure learners possess prerequisite skills
It is okay to individualize…rules don’t have to be
the same for everybody
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Select a Menu of Back-up Reinforcers
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Use naturally-occurring activities when possible
Privileges
Tangibles and edibles can be used as well
Follow ethical and legal rules
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Establish a Ratio of Exchange
– Initial ratio should be small
– After that, adjust ratio for maintenance
• Procedure for Dispensation
– May need storage containers
• Procedure for Exchange
– Usually a “store” of some sort
– Initially, have store open frequently
– Over time, this can be more intermittent
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Field Test the System
– Tally tokens you would have given without actually
giving them
– Analyze data to determine if the system seems
appropriate
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Tips
– Avoiding “Battles”
• Be matter of fact when learners don’t earn tokens; don’t
nag
• Stay neutral; avoid confrontation about tokens
– Response cost included?
• Most do include response cost
• Learners need to be aware of behaviors resulting in
response cost/procedures
• Make the cost fit the severity of behavior
• Avoid having learners go “in the hole”
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Implementation
– Initial training
• Describe the procedure to learners
• Model the procedure for token delivery
• Model the procedure for token exchange
– Ongoing training
• Booster sessions may be needed occasionally
– Management issues
• Teach students how/where to store tokens (secure location)
• Discourage hoarding and encourage savings in some students
• Chronic rule breakers deserve special consideration
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Implementation
– Withdrawing the token economy
• Plan for maintenance and generalization
• Pair tokens with social approval
• Gradually increase number of responses required to earn
tokens
• Gradually decrease length of time it is in place
• Gradually increase number of “natural” reinforcers and fade out
use of contrived reinforcers
• Systematically increase price of more desirable items
• Fade physical evidence of token over time
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Token Economy
• Considerations
– Can be intrusive and difficult to implement
– Can be cumbersome
– Can be so rewarding to interventionist that he/she doesn’t
want to remove it
– Ensure it doesn’t run counter to Federal mandates
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Group Contingencies
• Definition
– A common consequence is contingent on
the behavior of
• An individual member of the group,
• Part of the group, or
• Everyone in the group
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Group Contingencies
• Rationale
– Can be a time saver
– Can be more practical
– Capitalizes on peer influence and peer
monitoring (can also be potentially harmful)
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Group Contingencies
• Applications
– Independent group contingency
• A contingency is presented to all members of a
group, but reinforcement is only delivered to
those individuals who meet the criterion
outlined in the contingency
• Often combined with contracts or token
systems
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Group Contingencies
• Applications
– Dependent group contingency, AKA “Hero
Procedure”
• The reinforcer for the group is dependent on
the performance of an individual student or
small group of students
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Group Contingencies
• Applications
– Interdependent group contingency
• All of the individuals in a group must meet the
criterion of the contingency before any member
earns reinforcement
– Total group meets criterion
– Group average meets criterion
– Good Behavior/Good Student games (competitions)
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
Group Contingencies
• Implementation
– Choose a powerful reinforcer
– Determine the behavior to change and collateral
behaviors that might be affected
– Set appropriate performance criteria
– Combine with other procedures
– Select the most appropriate group contingency
– Monitor individual and group performance
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved